Redescription and molecular characterisation of Hemicriconemoides rosae Rathour, Sharma, Singh & Ganguly, 2003 from rhizosphere of sugarcane in India

Abstract

Summary A population of a Hemicriconemoides species was found from the rhizosphere of sugarcane in the Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Preliminary morphological studies led to the identification of the species as H. rosae. Further morphological and morphometric characterisation of the species was carried out by light microscopy. The gross morphology was consistent with the description of H. rosae except for some deviations in measurements. Here we present an amended description of the species together with illustrations and additional morphometric and morphological characters. The diagnostic relationship of H. rosae is given based on morphological and molecular information and a comparative study of paratype and holotype females. In addition, ITS rRNA and D2-D3 sequences were used for the construction of evolutionary relationship by Bayesian inference. The present study provides molecular data and a redescription of H. rosae collected from the rhizosphere of sugarcane in India.